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Photo by David Ross


Karyn Gojnich, skipper of Jabiru writes, 'A fleet of nine J/70s joined RSYS last weekend for the Ice Breaker Regatta. Starts were scheduled for 9am to capture the best of the winter westerlies.

On Saturday, there were three races. It was a day for eyes out of the boat and patience. Pressure was up and down between 4 to 8 knots, and the direction was swinging from SSW to SW. It was a game of snakes and ladders as leading around the top mark did not guarantee holding that position at the bottom.

Tim Ryan’s Vamos won the first two races but carrying an 8th in Race 3 dropped him into second place on the day. Sam Haynes’ Celestial won the day with a 3, 3, 1. Reg Lord helming Juno, finished the day third overall with a 2, 5, 3.



Photo by Zac Quinlan

Rod Warren’s Joust70 really was the team of the day. After driving up from Melbourne, launching and rigging on Friday then on Saturday morning, hoisting the jib to repair the furling block at the top of the mast, dropping the rig as they thought it was fixed only to lose a connecting pin on the way to the start line! Fortunately, a quick reallocation of a halyard kept the mast up. They missed the first race but came back with a 2nd and 4th in Race 2 and 3.

The start for the final race was delayed while the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) took over the race course area preparing to dock at Garden Island.

On Sunday morning, the 15-20 knot southerly forecast did not eventuate. Racing was delayed until RSYS Race Officer Ian Kingsford Smith was satisfied he could get a fair race away. Over the morning, the breeze was again from the SSW and ranged from 6 to 16 knots.

The starts were hotly contested, top mark rounding, were close and you had to be on your game to hold a position out in front.


Photo by Zac Quinlan.

Final positions for the regatta saw Reg Lord’s Juno take the win. Onboard with him were CYCA’s Max Brennan, Will Sargent and Paige Caldecoat. Will and Paige were fresh from winning the SB20 World Championships that were contested in June 2023 in the Hague, Netherlands. Max was part of the winning USA crew in the Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship held 25-29 July in Newport Beach, CA.

Second overall was Sam Haynes’ Celestial, with Sandringham Yacht Club’s Joust70 third.


Photo by David Ross

A great weekend of racing. Short and sharp with the fleet back at the club and able to enjoy a leisurely lunch and debate the on water challenges.

Many thanks to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Race officer Ian Kingsford Smith, Coxswain/Computer: David Ross, Timing: Jim Hawkins and Flags: Phil Maloney.'


See the results here.